I wish I could have loved The Winterfell Feast, too... But seemed a bit, cramped and pointless.

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Same. Plus they seemed to cut out Corvus Corax, so boo to the director.

I have a fifth scene I'd like to add to the previous four I agree with. It's the one in the very first episode where Bran Stark and Jon Snow watch Ned execute that deserter. I think it's a key scene that explains a lot of the series in perhaps a symbolic manner, but also what Ned is like and how he thinks.

Oh, a sixth too. The scene with Ned and King Robert having a real man's girly picnic by the side of the road, where they discuss whores. That was funny.

It should have been..... Bran asking his father, "Can man still be brave if he's afraid?" and Ned telling Bran.... "That's the only time a man can be brave."

I know I have harped on this but it is one of the best scenes in the entire series for me and for the 5 seconds it would have taken on screen it should have been there. I would trade the shaving of Renly's armpit for that in a heartbeat for sure! One of the few really bad decisions by the directors so far IMO.

I would trade the shaving of Renly's armpit for that in a heartbeat for sure! One of the few really bad decisions by the directors so far IMO.

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I'm actually going to step in here and ask that this scene isn't brought up again unless it's someone's favourite. We've discussed it before, and we know what happened there. Some didn't mind it, some wondered what all the fuss was about (Myself included) and others hated it. Fine. Let's drop it, though, in the interests of discussion because it just leads to conflict.

Cheerwell,
I'm not sure where you are 'stepping in' from, but I don't think my post is inappropriate in any way. I have no connection to any of the arguments over the scene you mentioned. Just because some cannot talk about the TV series without trying to turn it into a battle of differing views of social issues should not mean that the entire scene should be off limits to everyone. There is no reason it should lead to anything other than discussion of it's merits as a scene in Game of Thrones. Please don't hold everyone responsible for the reactions or overreactions of a few.
Thanks!

BTW- Another favorite:

Tyrion explaining to Jon that that to their fathers, "all dwarfs are bastards." Tyrion has stolen the show for me, much like he did in the books for me.

Not to speak for you rhallva, but if I read you right then I suspect that

One of the few really bad decisions by the directors so far IMO.

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refers to the decision to drop the line about being brave, rather than the decision to include the manlove. There's no quarrel here. And I heartily agree! That was a good line, and I'd love to see this extraordinary young actor in that scene. Here's hoping for a DVD extended cut.

Back on topic - I was unexpectedly touched by the parting of Tyrion and Jon on the Wall. It was like they shared a sense of being on the edge of their own families, when all they really wanted is acceptance.

And for some puerile reason, Mord offhandedly telling Tyrion to f*** off really REALLY made me laugh.

kged,
You did indeed see what I was trying to say. I was not intending to lead anyone back to the less than friendly discussion some fell into over the social issues involved. Perhaps I was not specific enough. To clarify I would trade off some of the screen time from many different scenes in the show so far to make time to have included that great line from Eddard to Bran about bravery.
The reason I chose the armpit shaving scene has nothing to do with anything other than that it was not in the book. If a decision has to be made to cut a good scene due to time constraints as the rest of the book was presented... then so be it, but when great moments from the book are cut to allow time to add things not in the book to start with (no matter what they are) is what bothered me about the decision.

To give credit where it is due though, then entire dynamic between Jon and Tyrion has been perhaps even better than I remember it in the book. So I guess I need to be careful about what deviations from the book I complain about.

The fight between Sandor and Gregor
Opening scene of the first episode with The Others (still was a great scene even though HBO got The Others completely wrong)
Ned executing the night watch deserter
Cersei/Robert private conversation
Summer saving Bran when he tore the would be assassins throat out
Tyrion giving Jon advice about being a bastard
Tyrion slapping Joffrey around
Tyrion taking a piss off the wall
Drogo poring the gold crown on Viserys head
The scene where Syrio talks about trouble and death

I agree that that line would have been amazing in the first episode. Maybe Ned will say it to someone else. He and Arya have a nice bond in the show and I'd like to see him speak to her before he goes.

I'd also say that I don't think anyone's meaning the manlove, just the creepy armpit shaving. xD

I would have liked to see the Feast after the Tourney, too. A lot of chances for fun there. Joffrey could have shown his dark side (which would have made him giving Sansa a necklace more meaningful). Could have got some drunken Hound, and of course, I know Addy would have been hallerious.

I also forgot a lot of these which were amazing, but I'll say the Old Nan scene fer sure. She told that tale like a pro.

I also really liked the Wildling scene in the Wolfswood, despite the lack of wolves. I really like Ousha (especailly when she's speaking to Lewin, too), she looks spooked.

Cheerwell,
No apology necessary. We're all just here to discuss books we love and what we love and don't love about them. It's all good.

3rdI - The scene with the fight between Sandor and Gregor would have been a top scene for me too except for one thing that jumped out at me. When Robert yelled for them to stop fighting The Hound INSTANTLY dropped to one knee in submission to the command of the King. Instantly! (???) That simply did not seem at all like the way Sandor would comply to anyone's command. Ofcourse he would comply, but not instantly to a knee with head bowed like that. No way. That was just not in keeping with the character at all. Gregor reacted much more in keeping with his character I thought. Still a great scene though.

3rdI - The scene with the fight between Sandor and Gregor would have been a top scene for me too except for one thing that jumped out at me. When Robert yelled for them to stop fighting The Hound INSTANTLY dropped to one knee in submission to the command of the King. Instantly! (???) That simply did not seem at all like the way Sandor would comply to anyone's command. Ofcourse he would comply, but not instantly to a knee with head bowed like that. No way. That was just not in keeping with the character at all. Gregor reacted much more in keeping with his character I thought. Still a great scene though.

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In the first book, that's how he was. He was an obidient dog, with a snarky mouth.

Plus, I liked that bit because it was more of him mocking Gregor. (As in he used the kneel to dodge the blow Gregor was going to deliver, which then went right over his head.) Gregor got flustered. xD